Friday 28 August 2009

CATCH THE BUZZ - HFCS DANGEROUS?

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CATCH THE BUZZ

HFCS Potentially Dangerous When Even Slightly Heated

From Eureka Alert


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Protein feeding pays off with better bee health, better survival, better production, and better wintering.  Learn More.

 

Researchers have established the conditions that foster formation of potentially dangerous levels of a toxic substance in the high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) often fed to honey bees. Their study, which appears in the current issue of ACS' bi-weekly Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, could also help keep the substance out of soft drinks and dozens of other human foods that contain HFCS. The substance, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), forms mainly from heating fructose.

In the new study, Blaise LeBlanc and Gillian Eggleston and colleagues note HFCS's ubiquitous usage as a sweetener in beverages and processed foods. Some commercial beekeepers also feed it to bees to increase reproduction and honey production. When exposed to warm temperatures, HFCS can form HMF and kill honeybees. Some researchers believe that HMF may be a factor in Colony Collapse Disorder, a mysterious disease that has killed at least one-third of the honeybee population in the United States.

The scientists measured levels of HMF in HFCS products from different manufacturers over a period of 35 days at different temperatures. As temperatures rose, levels of HMF increased steadily. Levels jumped dramatically at about 120 degrees Fahrenheit. "The data are important for commercial beekeepers, for manufacturers of HFCS, and for purposes of food storage. Because HFCS is incorporated as a sweetener in many processed foods, the data from this study are important for human health as well," the report states. It adds that studies have linked HMF to DNA damage in humans. In addition, HMF breaks down in the body to other substances potentially more harmful than HMF.

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Monday 24 August 2009

CATCH THE BUZZ - Marker For CCD Found

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CATCH THE BUZZ

 

A Single molecular marker found for Colony Collapse Disorder. Proteins are the key.

 

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Protein feeding pays off with better bee health, better survival, better production, and better wintering.  Learn More.

If your ribosome is compromised, then you can't respond to pesticides, you can't respond to fungal infections or bacteria or inadequate nutrition because the ribosome is central to the survival of any organism. So says a report in Science Daily. You need proteins to survive," says May Berenbaum, entomology professor and department head at the University of Illinois, along with being an affiliate of the Institute for Genomic Biology at Illinois. This observation is the result of work conducted there, funded and assisted by the USDA, with Reed Johnson, a University of Illinois

doctoral student in entomology and first author on the study, and Gene Robinson, entomology and neuroscience professor at U of I and co-principal investigator, and Director of the neuroscience Program at Illinois. Johnson was the recipient of the Eastern Apicultural Society’s prestigious Student Award this year, presented at their annual meeting in August.

 

Their study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is the first to identify a single, objective molecular marker of the disorder, and to propose an explanation to the mysterious disappearance of American honey bees.

The study made use of the honey bee genome (only recently completed at U of I by Robinson and others) and a genome-based tool, the microarray, to look for differences in gene expression in the guts of healthy honey bees and in those from hives afflicted by CCD.

 

Berenbaum said that they saw that CCD bees suffered "more than their share" of infections with viruses that attack the ribosome, a finding reflected in the Penn State study released last week and reported on here.

 

These so-called picorna-like viruses "hijack the ribosome," she said, taking over the cellular machinery to manufacture only viral proteins, not those needed for the bee to survive or thrive. The list of picorna-like viruses that afflict honey bees is long and includes Israeli acute paralysis virus, which was once suspected of being the primary cause of CCD.

 

The varroa mite is a carrier of picorna-like viruses, and is thought by most researchers to be a key in explaining the virus loads carried by U. S. bees.

 

The researchers summed up - bees under stress would not be able to handle those stresses, or handle them as well when the ribsomone functions were compromised and the proteins needed to compete were not being produced.

 

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CATCH THE BUZZ - WORLD ALMOND PRODUCTION DOWN

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CATCH THE BUZZ

World Almond Crop Predicted to be Down. Will Prices Increase?

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Protein feeding pays off with better bee health, better survival, better production, and better wintering.  Learn More.

 

India may produce only 1,200 tonnes of almonds in 2009-10

Almond production in India is likely to remain stagnant at 1,200 tonnes in 2009-10, while the world output is forecast to dip by 13 per cent in the same period, a recent report said.

Almond production in India for 2009-10 is pegged at 1,200 tonnes, which is the same as last year, the US Department of Agriculture said in its trade report.

Almond cultivation in the country is restricted to selected hilly areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

The USDA data showed that India's production of almonds has been stagnant at 1,200 tonnes since 2004.

The report highlighted that the world's almond output may decline by 13 per cent at 7,60,000 tonnes due to an expected smaller crop in the US, where over 80 per cent of the world's almonds are produced.

According to USDA, almond production in America is expected to fall 17 per cent to 6,12,350 tonnes in 2009-10, compared with 7,39,350 tonnes last season.

Almond production in Europe may rise marginally to 88,950 tonnes from 79,800 tonnes last year. The output in Australia is expected to increase to 30,000 tonnes from 26,000 tonnes, the report said.

 

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Sunday 23 August 2009

Central Beekeepers Alliance : Central Beekeepers meet 8 September 2009

Central Beekeepers Alliance : Central Beekeepers meet 8 September 2009


Central Beekeepers meet 8 September 2009

Posted: 22 Aug 2009 09:31 PM PDT

Tuesday, 8 September 2009
Central Beekeepers Alliance Meeting
Agricultural Research Centre, Fredericton, NB
7:30 p.m.

Want to learn more about Beekeeping?

Central Beekeepers meet on the second Tuesday of the month. Visitors and new beekeepers are always welcome! Most meetings include an educational session, group discussion, or hands-on demonstration for the benefit of beginning beekeepers in central New Brunswick.

The Agricultural Research Centre ("Experimental Farm") is located at 850 Lincoln Road, Fredericton, New Brunswick. Entry is from the parking lot at the back of the building, at door "B". For a map to the Agricultural Research Centre, see our Next Meeting page.

Central Beekeepers meet 8 September 2009 comes from the Central Beekeepers Alliance of New Brunswick, Canada. For more information on Honey Bees and Beekeeping, please: * Visit http://cba.stonehavenlife.com * Subscribe to our RSS feed * Get free updates by e-mail

Friday 21 August 2009

CATCH THE BUZZ - Honey Hucksters Guilty

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CATCH THE BUZZ

Honey Importers Caught, Convicted and  to be Sentenced in November. A good day for U.S. Beekeepers


By Alan Harman

 Chinese executive Boa Zhong Zhang pleads guilty to conspiracy to smuggle goods into the United States by using false statements and to introducing adulterated foods into interstate commerce.

   The Seattle Times reports the plea agreement in U.S. District Court in Seattle means the vice president of Changge Jixiang Bee Products Ltd. in Henan, China, faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced on Nov. 30.

   Still facing trial are  Chung Po Liu of Bellevue, 68, owner of Rainier Cascade and Evergreen Produce, and Yong Xiang Yan, 60, board chairman of the Chinese honey company.


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Here

Protein feeding pays off with better bee health, better survival, better production, and better wintering.  Learn More.


Investigators say they mislabeled honey containing three antibiotics as coming from other countries to avoid antidumping tariffs.

 

   A U.S. Department of Justice statement says Boa Zhong Zhang was accused of rerouting 21 shipments of Chinese honey worth $1.6 million to avoid $3.3 million in punitive antidumping tariffs. The honey was shipped from China to the Philippines or Thailand, where it was relabeled and sent on to the U.S.

   One shipment in January 2008 is believed to have been contaminated with ciproflaxin -- an antibiotic sometimes sold under the trade name Cipro.

   “Submission of false customs documentation to avoid paying tariffs defrauds not only the U.S. government, but the public who is unaware of the scheme and unwittingly purchases the products,” U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Special Agent-in-Charge Leigh Winchell says in a statement.


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right here

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Wednesday 19 August 2009

CATCH THE BUZZ - Country Of Origin Honey Label Means Business

CATCH THE BUZZ

USDA Revises Regulations to Include Country of Origin Labeling of Honey

Comments Accepted Through September 8, 2009

By American Beekeeping Federation News




USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service is establishing a new regulation addressing country of origin labeling for packed honey bearing any official USDA mark or statement, such as U.S. Grade A.
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The 2008 Farm Bill requires that packaged honey bearing any combination of USDA marks or statements must also display the name or names of the one or more countries of origin of the lot or container of honey so that the name or names are legible, permanently in close proximity to the USDA marks or statement -- such as on the same side(s) or surface(s), of a comparable size to the USDA marks or statements, and are preceded by the words "Product of" or other words of similar meaning.
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To allow the industry to clear the market of labels that do not comply with the new rules, this interim final rule becomes effective October 6, 2009. The rule was published in the July 8, 2009, Federal Register.
Celebrate UrbanBees with Bee Culture and thedailygreen.com For details, visit www.thedailygreen.com/bee-photos.
Written comments must be received by September 8, 2009, and should be sent to:

Chere L. Shorter
Processed Products Branch
Fruit and Vegetable Programs
Agricultural Marketing Service
USDA
Stop

0247
1400 Independence Avenue
SW
Washington
, DC 20250-0247

You can also e-mail to chere.shorter@usda.gov or fax your comments to 202-690-1527.

Copies of the Federal Register notice are available and comments may be submitted electronically at www.regulations.gov - enter keyword AMS-FV-08-0075.

A violation of the new requirements may be deemed by the Secretary of Agriculture to be sufficient cause for debarment from inspection and certification of honey.

For more information, contact chere.shorter@ams.usda.gov or call 202-720-4693.


Meanwhile, The ABF also released this today, regarding their new web site...take a look.

 

ABF Unveils New, Enhanced Web Site

 The American Beekeeping Federation (ABF) is pleased to announce the launch of the new and improved ABF Web site at abfnet.org.

The ABF has been working on a Web site design that will serve as the industry standard and is the key resource for beekeeping contacts, industry communications, and legislative news and updates. With its fresh navigation and improved functionality, the new site is focused on user friendliness for both ABF members and the public.

The enhanced Web site will now allow ABF members to log-in with an assigned username and password. This log-in feature enables members to:

• Renew their membership online and maintain an up-to-date membership profile

• Access exclusive, member-only content

• Register online for the 2010 North American Beekeeping Conference & Tradeshow, Jan. 12-16, 2010, in Orlando, Fla.

• Donate online to the ABF and the Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees

 

The site also affords non-members the opportunity to learn more about the activities and initiatives of the ABF, as well as the online capability to join the organization in a few easy steps.

Questions regarding the site or ABF membership can be directed to Kari Freeland, ABF membership coordinator, at 404.760.2875 or via e-mail at mailto:karifreeland@abfnet.org.


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CATCH THE BUZZ - U.S. Honey Produer Board Comments

CATCH THE BUZZ

USDA Seeks Comments on Proposed U.S. Honey Producer Board

Comments Accepted Through September 14, 2009

Release from American Beekeeping Federation




The proposed Board would be responsible for carrying out activities intended to strengthen the position of U.S. honey in the marketplace, developing, maintaining and expand existing markets, and enhancing the image of domestic honey.  The proposed order would be administered by a seven-member board.
Find out What’s New At Mann Lake right
Here
Only producers of U.S. honey would pay an assessment of 2 cents per pound of domestic honey produced. A producer who produces less than 100,000 pounds of U.S. honey per year would be eligible for a certificate of exemption.
Protein feeding pays off with better bee health, better survival, better production, and better wintering.  Learn More.
It is seen by proponents as a counterpart to the National Honey Board, which is funded and controlled by packers and importers and promotes imported as well as domestic honey.
For a comprehensive listing of beekeeping events around the country and around the globe, check out Bee Culture’s Global Beekeeping Calendar
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The proposed rule was published in the July 14, 2009, Federal Register, along with a proposed rule on the procedures to be used in the referendum to determine if the program will go into effect.  Comments on both rules must be received by September 14, 2009.

 Interested parties are invited to submit written comments on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov, or mail them, in triplicate, to:

Research and Promotion Branch
Fruit and Vegetable Programs
AMS
USDA
Stop

0244
1400 Independence Avenue
SW
Washington
, DC 20250-0244

You can also call 888-720-9917 or fax your comments to 202-205-2800.

Copies of the proposed rule and any comments that are received may be requested from the same address or viewed at www.ams.usda.gov/FVPromotion (see also: Federal Register Notices). They are also available at www.regulations.gov - enter keyword AMS-FV-07-0091.


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Monday 17 August 2009

CATCH THE BUZZ - SUGAR AT 28 YEAR HIGH PRICE

CATCH THE BUZZ

So What’s With The Price Of Sugar?




Maybe you’ve noticed. The price of table sugar has changed. It’s at a 28 year high right now, and folks aren’t at all confident it will go down soon. USDA expects sugar supplies to drop by 43% over the next year.

Analysts aren’t worried about empty supermarket shelves, but some sugar users are clamoring for a reduction in sugar trade barriers. U.S. sugar users pay, or paid, just about double the world price of sugar, to protect the U.S. sugar producers from cheap imports. But high world prices now pretty much negate that tariff. U.S. beekeepers can’t complain a lot about this, I imagine, because they have the same plan in place to protect the price of American honey. Many major U.S. sugar users were able to buy futures at lower prices a bit ago so the current increase won’t be seen for some time from some supp liers, while some sugar sellers are arguing that in reality there isn’t a shortage at all, and there’s plenty to go around.


Find out What’s New at Mann Lake, Here
But the shortage, or shortage story can be traced to the two main sugar producers in the world, India and Brazil. They have both had adverse weather for sugar production this season. India, the second largest producer hasn’t had enough rain this season, thus hasn’t been able to produce enough sugar to meet internal demands and will be a net importer this year, reducing world supply.  Brazil, the largest producer has had too much rain and hasn’t been able to harvest their crop, and what has been harvested has a reduced sucrose content. Thus, world demand will exceed production by about 5 million tons, according to some experts. This after a 7.8 million ton deficit this year. T his will result in a raw sugar price at about 20 - 25 cents/pound for the remainder of the year, according to a Reuters India report.
Protein feeding pays off with better bee health, better survival, better production, and better wintering.  Learn More.
Kraft and General Mills believe that the U.S. will virtually run out of sugar, but new markets and suppliers should surface due to a 91 percent year to date price increase, perhaps. This supply/demand issue also reflects the fact that sugar prices were depressed last year, resulting in fewer acres being planted this year, so the exact ability of other suppliers to fill gaps remains an unknown. And the role of beet sugar is still cloudy. And meanwhile, some sugar is committed to the ethanol industry, while HFCS will probably see a firming of markets due to this shortage, but what role the health industry will play remains to be seen.
For a comprehensive listing of beekeeping events around the country and around the globe, check out Bee Culture’s Global Beekeeping Calendar

 

Subscribe to Malcolm Sanford’s Apis Newsletter right here


Benefiting from higher sugar prices, according to a Gerson-Lehman Group report will be marketers of imports in Brazil including Bunge Ltd., Monsanto, DuPont, Syngenta and Bayer. Producers and traders and sugar beet industry members like Tate and Lyle, ED&F Man, C&H Sugar, American Crystal, Minn-Dak Farmers Coop, Pfeifer & Langen, Cargil, ADM and others. This will also put less pressure on HFCS sellers to keep prices low, so ADM, Cargill and others will benefit there, also. Those hurt?  Major candy and ice cream companies, Marrs, Nestle and Unilver, Kraft, General Mills, Interstate Bakeries and Gold Medal bakeries among others.
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Analysts expect prices to remain high for at least one more growing season, so supply may improve by then, but the weather bats last.

This message brought to you by Bee Culture, The Magazine Of American Beekeeping

 

 

 

CATCH THE BUZZ - EMAIL ERROR FOR DAN

CATCH THE BUZZ

Error In Email Address



It happens, especially on Monday mornings...Please send your UrbanBees Photos and story to

Dan Shapley at

Dshapley@hearst.com

The week should begin on Tuesday...

Sorry Dan, and sorry for the confusion.

CATCH THE BUZZ - CELEBRATE URBAN BEES!

CATCH THE BUZZ

Help Us Celebrate Urban Bees, and Urban Beekeepers




Bee Culture Magazine and www.thedailygreen.com want to celebrate the incredible explosion of City Beekeepers. We want all urban dwellers with beehives and beesuits, with hive tools and smokers, with supers and covers and frames galore to stand and be counted, to be recognized and noticed. We want everyone that uses five frame, eight frame, ten frame or top bar hives to raise their hands to the sky and shout! We want every and all of America’s backyard, roof top, window box, fire escape, empty lot, and anywhere else in the city honey makers to join the hive and let the world know you’re alive. Let’s get everyone with every hive, in every large or small, crowded or sparse asphalt landscape around the towns and the cities, the suburbs and gardens of America’s everywhere and anywhere to share what they do, show what they grow, and feel pride in their work, their passion and their hobby. It’s no matter if you just started out or are already seasoned in city bees. And if it’s not Kosher to keep bees where you are, we won’t tell, we won’t share because we don’t care…we want the world to know there are thousands who are working to make the bees at home. Thousands who want only the bees, only the peace, only the gentle gift of helping things grow. Thousands who are part of the larger citybee community. Thousands!

 

If this is you, if this is your time, send us a photo, a gift to share with those who share with you , and especially those who haven't yet but want to. Send a high quality photo, 50 or so well chosen words about your specific, or general location and operation…depending on you and your neighbors and the law of the land where you are. We need contact information so we can get back to you (an email is just fine) if there’s a question so we get it right the first time. Please send all this to Dan Shapley, the Editor and web and guru at thedailygreen.com at dshpaley@hearst.com. He’s a whiz at making all this work. When you send your photos and descriptions, you give The Daily Green and Bee Culture the right to publish the material and share it with its partners. For details, visit www.thedailygreen.com/bee-photos.

It’s time for the bees. Help us show what you do and how you do it. It’s only for those who have, and those who want bees. Join the Community of UrbanBees. Be part of the Revolution. UrbanBees Now!


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Saturday 15 August 2009

CATCH THE BUZZ - BOY SCOUTS GO DIGITAL

CATCH THE BUZZ

Boy Scouts Of America Hop Aboard Technology Movement, Leave Beekeeping Behind

Originally printed at http://www.kauz.com/news/local/53253857.html




Mike Mitchell earned his Eagle Scout rank in 1997 and spent most of his adult life working for Boy Scouts of America. He says the scouts helped shape who he is today.
Find out What’s New at Mann Lake, Here
"I believe I'd still be a good guy, but probably not as well rounded as I am today.  I defintely owe a lot to scouting." says Mitchell.

Protein feeding pays off with better bee health, better survival, better production, and better wintering.  Learn More.


And every scout owes a lot to the Boy Scout handbook, but it may be looking a lot different in the future. Many say the Boy Scout handbook is more than just a book, it's a guide to life.  In the book you find information about first aid, building a shelter and making a fire, but starting in September, all the information in this book will be available on your iPhone.


For a comprehensive listing of beekeeping events around the country and around the globe, check out Bee Culture’s Global Beekeeping Calendar


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"It's definitely a sign of the times...you look in there and there are things like map and compass that has always been big with the scouts...land navigation and now we're getting interest in GPS devices." Mitchell continues.

The scouts also update merit badges every year.

"Composite study, nuclear science...of course, they replace stuff like beekeeping, book binding...things that we dont...maybe not that we don't have a need for it but we don't do a lot of it."

But there is a lot of information in the handbook that will never change.

"95% of everything that is in there 30 years ago, 40 years ago...probably 90% of it is still the same."

"Next year, we've been around 100 years, pretty much the values and the mission statement are still the same."


This message brought to you by Bee Culture, The Magazine Of American Beekeeping

 

Thursday 13 August 2009

CATCH THE BUZZ - CITRUS PESTICIDES ONLY GETTING WORSE

CATCH THE BUZZ

 

The pressure is on to eradicate deadly organism affecting citrus crops worldwide

from newswise.com



Americans may find a glass of their favorite breakfast staple, orange juice, hard to come by in the next few years if a certain bacteria has its way. According to a spokesperson with the Florida Citrus Mutual, Florida’s orange crop could shrink within five years by about 12%, to 140 million 90-pound boxes, as the state battles the tree-killing disease known as the “Citrus Greening Disease,” or Citrus Huanglongbing.
Find out What’s New at Mann Lake, Here
Citrus Huanglongbing (HLB) – also known as “citrus greening” - is a serious bacterial disease that is adversely affecting citrus groves worldwide. The disease has already been responsible for the significant decrease in citrus production in many countries in Asia, Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and Brazil. HLB disease, spread by insect called a citrus psyllid, has no known cure , affects all of the main types of citrus, and can ultimately kill the trees. If unstopped, the potential economic impact to the multi-billion dollar citrus industry of the U.S. and the rest of the world could be devastating.
Protein feeding pays off with better bee health, better survival, better production, and better wintering.  Learn More.
HLB was first detected in Florida in 2005. The Sunshine State’s citrus industry is now mounting a multi-million dollar research effort to try and overcome citrus greening, as the increasing spread of HLB disease is threatening the future of this sector in the U.S.. With commercial citrus production across the entire state now affected by citrus greening, the Florida citrus industry said it plans to carry out extensive research to find short and long-term solutions to the disease.
For a comprehensive listing of beekeeping events around the country and around the globe, check out Bee Culture’s Global Beekeeping Calendar
Subscribe to Malcolm Sanford’s Apis Newsletter right here

The 2008-2009 harvests, which ended in July, is forecasted at 159.6 million boxes, down from 170.2 million last year. Growers are awaiting a September tree census to determine how many acres of citrus groves have been lost to citrus greening. The disease was first discovered after a parade of hurricanes battered the groves, and has spread
to all thirty-two of Florida’s citrus-growing counties.

At present, the only methods available to curtail citrus greening involve using pesticide to kill the insects, hiring more scouts to inspect the groves, and immediately removing infected trees.


This message brought to you by Bee Culture, The Magazine Of American Beekeeping

Monday 10 August 2009

Apis Newsletter August 9, 2009




Dear Subscribers,

We are getting some “normal” Florida weather for the summer season.  Periodic thunderstorms continue moving in and around Gainesville in North Florida, with a 40 to 60 percent chance each afternoon this week.  This is the time when all of us in the Sunshine state cock our eyes to the tropics.  So far there has been little development of any major weather disturbances, perhaps as a response to the current rather strong “el niño” phenomenon.

Story Project Update:  A  hearty thanks to those who took the time to fill out my latest “structured request for beekeeping stories” that I put out a couple of weeks ago to the Apis newsletter list.  I am still hoping to get others from those receiving this newsletter.  Here is the request in a condensed form.  Just reply to this and open as much space that you need at the end of each question:
When did you begin beekeeping?  What specifically got you interested?  Is there a family history of beekeeping?  
What was your first experience manipulating a beehive like?  What did it teach you?  What is the size of your operation (number of hives)?  Do you plan to expand?  Contract in size? What are your major considerations for this?  
Do you produce honey for sale or just as a gift?  Do you market other bee products? 
Do you engage in commercial pollination? 
Are you a member of an association?  Local? State?  Which?  Do you attend meetings?  Do you have a leadership role? 
What short courses have you attended?  What memorable instructors have you had.  What is the most important thing you learned? 
What publications (printed and electronic) do you routinely read? 
Where do you live? What is the climate like? Temperate? Subtropical? What is the configuration of a hive in the region (all deeps) (a deep and a shallow) 
What are the major plants that bees use in your area?  Have you seen any shift in their nectar production? 
Where do you get replacement bees (packages? Nucs?) and queens (raise your own; purchase). What kind of bee do you use?  (Italian, Carniolan, Buckfast) Do you collect feral (wild) bees and swarms? 
What is your biggest beekeeping challenge now?  Has that changed since you began beekeeping? 
Other remarks about your experience that would encourage/entertain or educate the beginning beekeeper.
I give my permission to Dr. Malcolm T. Sanford to use the above in Electronic and printed media:  Your name here: ________________________

The regional associations are meeting at this time and I would appreciate any reports from those attending EAS, HAS, WAS or others.

CCD Update:  There have been a number of reports in the press that the cause of CCD has been found and there might be a cure in the works.  This appears to be overkill; evidence reveals that the malady is probably caused by a number of things. http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jul2009/2009-07-29-094.asp .  A recent review has also been published http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0006481 .  Always check this site for the latest information http://maarec.psu.edu/ColonyCollapseDisorder.html, as well as the new Bee Health site: http://www.extension.org/bee%20health cited elsewhere.  

EPA Issues Registration Review Final Work Plan for Imidacloprid:  EPA has issued a Final Work Plan (FWP) for the registration review of imidacloprid.  A neonicotinoid insecticide, imidacloprid is highly toxic to honeybees on an acute exposure basis; however, potential chronic effects on honeybee colonies are uncertain.  As part of the registration review process, EPA is requiring field-based data on imidacloprid to better understand its potential impact on pollinators.  The Agency also will be working with Federal and State officials, as well as the international community and other stakeholders, to develop data and help us understand the potential impact of the neonicotinoid insecticides on pollinators.  For additional information about the Agency's pollinator
protections, please see http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/ecosystem/pollinator-protection.html.  For information about the registration review of imidacloprid, please see
http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/registration_review/imidacloprid/index.htm.

Bee Health:  Editor Flottum discusses the progress of the $4.1 million colony health grant one year later in this month’s Bee Culture.  Part of that is a so-called “community of practice” web site
http://www.extension.org/bee%20health.  This resource is worth taking a look at on a routine basis.  Special links are found showing how to test for hygienic behavior and the state-of-the-art  healthy bees course from the University of Minnesota.  See also a review of the American Bee Research  Conference held early this year in Gainesville, FL.  Sustainable Beekeeping: A Best Management Practices Guide; Africanized and Feral Honey Bees; Pollination; Managed Non-Apis Bees (bumble bees, mason bees, etc.); Landscape Health; Unmanaged Beneficial Bees,
and  Bee Identification Guidance.  The site has also been linked  to the Consumer Horticulture Community of Practice Blog http://consumerhortcop.wordpress.com/.

Genetic Diversity Research:  There’s continuing discussion about the extent of genetic diversity in honey bee populations.  The most diverse populations seem much better able to hold their own in a risky, unpredictable world.  Those in the Americas, however, have been affected by many things, but most importantly by Varroa mites and their reduction of the huge wild or feral population of honey bees that built up over time since the honey bee was introduced to the  Americas in the 1600s.  Research conducted at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville on the genetic diversity of feral and managed (hobbyist/sideliner) colonies in the central and south central US shows that of the 432 samples sequenced, a total of 35 mitotypes (mitochondrial DNA, exclusively inherited from the mother) were observed which represent all four A. mellifera lineages known to exist in the United States. Interestingly, there is evidence of the `M' lineage (A. m. mellifera the "Dark Bee") still existing (8% of feral colonies), even though this subspecies has not been preferred by beekeepers for over 100 years. Furthermore, representatives of the 'O' lineage (A. m.
syriaca), (11% of feral colonies) have been found which has not been imported into the US since the 1880's. Surprisingly, analysis of 3 midwest beekeepers have shown that they are keeping these two lineages. http://comp.uark.edu/~aszalan/Site/Apis/Honey_bee_mitotype_map.html.

Pollination  Grants:  The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has awarded a matching Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) of $183,954 to the Pollinator Partnership, the Ohio State University, and Grand Valley State University to evaluate and communicate the ecological and economic costs and benefits of incorporating floral resource strips into vegetable production systems.  The project seeks to
demonstrate what pollinator habitat practices will work for vegetable producers, how they will benefit and how pollinator habitat efforts can be integrated into USDA conservation assistance and incentive programs. See other pollinator projects at http://www.pollinator.org/projects.htm.

USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service announced new rules concerning honey and it’s labeling. The 2008 Farm Bill amended the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to require country of origin labeling (COOL) if it contains official USDA grade marks or statements.  The new rule will bar any honey products from the market if they do not comply with the 2008 Farm Bill and its country of origin labeling requirements. In order for the industry to clear the market of noncompliant labels, the new rule will not take effect until October 6, 2009. http://regulations.justia.com/view/147889/ .

Florida  Honey Standard:  July 14 is a banner date in French history; this year it was the same for another revolution of sorts, the  adoption by  Florida of the first state honey standard.  It got a lot of press.  Where it goes from here remains an open question.   However, it is clearly a good beginning and several other states are in the process of adopting it as well. Stay tuned: 
http://www.slashfood.com/2009/07/27/florida-honey-gets-new-standards/ .

Beecraft – American Edition:  A new magazine is attempting to break onto the world scene using the World Wide Web.  This is an outgrowth of the British journal Bee Craft.  Check out the last free electronic edition at http://content.yudu.com/A189nm/BCA0905/resources/index.htm.  After that one will have to subscribe to get four copies a year at $10.00. 
http://www.bee-craft.com/beecraft-shop/beekeeping-beecraft-magazines.html.

Link Collection Continues:  I still am collecting links using the journalist tool found at publish2.com.  Check out this month’s offering at http://www.publish2.com/newsgroups/august-2009/, which include attacks on  honey bees by so-called “crazy” ants and New Zealand’s Manuka honey scandal.   Previous month’s contributions can  be seen at
http://www.publish2.com/journalists/malcolm-sanford/newsgroups/ .  These are also fed to my blog at http://abeekeepersblog.blogspot.com/

National Honey Bee Awareness Day:  Come to Alachua County, Florida to celebrate National Honey Bee Awareness Day, August 22, 2009:  see http://www.nhbad.com/ for events around the nation.

===========================================
Gleanings from the August 2009 Bee Culture:

John Hoffman, Mount Holly Springs, PA provides some in depth questions and answers about using screened bottom boards.  James Wesson, Summerville, GA sends in a picture of his log cabin hive.  Richard Anderson, Donora, PA asks some provocative questions and then asks what we  might learn if answers were available.  The editor responds  they are, but it will take some digging in various volumes to find  them.  Greg Carey, California, MD says he used last month’s  advice about laying workers and worries less about his  colony.  Dan O’Hanlon, President of the West  Virginia Queen Producers, thanks Bee Culture for saying in print  what many are saying in
private. Harley Crawford, Santa Rosa, CA shows where he hid his bees when entering the Navy in 1943.

Editor Flottum talks about rabbits in his garden.  Read what this has to do with beekeeping; the parallels are surprising.

New for Summer 2009 reading, including suggestions like Honeybee -- Lessons from an Accidental Beekeeper; Mead Making & Judging; Wicked Plants, a Book of Botanical Atrocities.  Also in this area, read about Betterbee’s new, improved hive portals (entrances).

As noted earlier, Editor Flottum conducts an in depth one-one-one interview with Dr. Keith Delaplane, University of Georgia, concerning the $4.1 million bee health grant.  See more at: http://www.beeccdcap.uga.edu/.

Current thoughts on the EPA by Thad Box, The Western Farmer Stockman reveals a slow, but more proactive response with reference to imidacloprid and its relatives.  This is noted earlier in this issue about the EPA   http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/ecosystem/pollinator-protection.html.

Clarence Collison takes a closer look at the impact of mites on queens, workers, and drones.  Read why some things beekeepers put in hives to combat mites may in fact be worse than the mites themselves.

Kathi Petersen publishes a bee lover’s garden calendar.  Read how it can be used to raise awareness and also be used for soliciting research funding, as well as benefitting local beekeeping organizations.

Steve Sheppard reviews new research on the two nosema species.  Read how Nosema ceranae might be changing the time-honored practice of feeding fumaillin to reduce Nosema apis in breeding colonies. 

Editor Flottum discusses what’s going on at the White House, including how the new beehive is standing up to helicopter prop wash, the new dog and summer heat.  Read what the White House beekeeper is doing to keep his colony in good health and honey on the Presidential table.

Larry Connor writes about allergies to bee venom.  Read why this ever-present risk demands attention by beekeepers at all times and the real reason one should wear a veil at all times around bee colonies.

Scott Fisher describes Log Chain Apiary, an Iowa  Icon.  Read about the honey war the region is famous for and its unique flavored cremed honey. Check out honey from the heartland at http://logchain.com/.

Kitty Kiefer recommends keeping a second smoker at the ready.  Read how she squished one and couldn’t find a replacement.  It made for a long night of hauling bees.

Kirk Webster continues listing his mentors, folks that have influenced his beekeeping.  Some are well-known like Brother Adam, others more obscure such as Nevin Weaver of the famous queen-rearing Texas family and Bill and Martha Treichler, Hammondsport, N.Y.  Read about the latter couple's relationship to the Haughley Experiment http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haughley_Experiment.

Kathy  Birt reveals how making mead pays for one Prince Edward Island beekeeper, Daniel Ficza or Canoe Cover.  Read how he keeps his mead local and does not compete with other Canadians.

Dick Marron describes a heart-stopping moment when he cavalierly picked up a queen and thought he damaged her.  Read how he snatched the moment from the jaws of  defeat by blowing on her.

Jim Tew provides current information on wintering beehives as  influenced by past wintering recommendations given in previous issues of  Bee Culture.  He goes all the way back to a 1915 pamphlet on Outdoor Wintering of Bees, a  USDA Farmers’ Bulletin (#695) October 12, authored  by E.F. Phillips.  Albert R. Mann Library 2005. The Hive and the Honeybee: Selections from the E. F. Phillips Beekeeping Collection at Mann Library. Ithaca, NY: Albert R. Mann Library, Cornell University. http://bees.library.cornell.edu.

Tim Celeski explains how to build a honey heater for the hobby beekeeper using a  light bulb and various portable cooler arrangements.  Read in depth analyses of wiring up the apparatus and controlling the temperature.

Gwen Rosenberg says there are flavors of urban beekeeping.  Read how the burgeoning green movement is contributing to beekeeping in a number of ways.

Abbas Edun lists more plants that are good for bees and people.  This includes Annatto, blueberry, and buckwheat.

Ross Conrad  contends that our future, intimately tied to that of the earth, depends on what we choose to do on personal, regional, national, and international levels as a society.  Read why recommends a return to the precautionary principle, making chemical manufacturers responsible for the impacts of their products on the environment, and that beekeepers should immediately reduce and  eliminate use of chemicals in their hives.

Eugene Makovec describes his feelings about assassinating queens and getting replacements. Read how he became a believer and what he discovered about replacing employees and queens.

Ann Harman keeps cool in hot weather with snazzy cool hat and vest.  Read how to tell the difference between heat cramps, exhaustion and stroke and the value of keeping hydrated at all times in the bee yard.  It could save your life.

In all the news that fits, we read how the Florida honey standard came to be, the sweet and  sour of honey with venom added (New Zealand), obituary of Kansas icon R. Waldo  McBurney
http://www.rage3d.com/board/showthread.php?t=33948736 .  Finally send get well wishes to Box Cox, Category  III Scientist at the Kika de la Garza Subtropical Agricultural Research Center, Weslaco, TX, afflicted with brain cancer and undergoing radiation treatment, 914 Kerria St., Weslaco, TX 78596.

Also listed are the obituaries of two giants of beekeeping with very different careers.  Lawrence (Larry) Goltz, previous editor of Gleanings in Bee Culture before its name change.  Mr. Goltz was also a naturalist and photographer.  James Irvin Powers was one of the most influential beekeepers of his age, pioneering apiculture in Hawaii, and a winner of the presidents award of the American Beekeeping Federation.

Read how Brushy Mountain in Moravian Falls, NC accepted the $1 Billion Award for North Carolina’s State Industrial Extension Service and the deadlines for the Northeast SARE project that many have used to fund producer beekeeping research http://nesare.org/cgi-bin/mt/mt-search.cgi?IncludeBlogs=1&search=honey+bees

Bee sure to report you bee kills to the EPA so that a running total of incidents can be maintained.  See: http://www.epa.gov./oppefed1/general/databasesdescription.htm. Ed Colby reveals the source of his new, old Chevy truck and use of it to demonstrate retrieving a swarm for an  appreciative audience.  Read how the Chevy truck compares to others he owned and where his bees are now in the great state of Colorado.

Malcolm T. Sanford

Brought to you by:



Bee sure to subscribe to Catch the Buzz, Bee Culture's latest releases of importance to beekeepers.  Also access the Apis Information Resource Center , which contains archived articles, listing of  posts on blogs, web sites, and links to related materials.  .

Sunday 9 August 2009

CATCH THE BUZZ - NEWEST CCD STUDY RELEASED

CATCH THE BUZZ

Newest CCD Study released this week.




Colony Collapse Disorder: A Descriptive Study

Dennis vanEngelsdorp1,2, Jay D. Evans5, Claude Saegerman3, Chris Mullin2, Eric Haubruge4, Bach Kim Nguyen4, Maryann Frazier2, Jim Frazier2, Diana Cox-Foster2, Yanping Chen5, Robyn Underwood2, David R. Tarpy6, Jeffery S. Pettis5*

1 Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America, 2 Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, University

Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America, 3 Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Epidemiology and Risk analysis applied to the Veterinary Sciences,

University of Liege, Liege, Belgium, 4 Department of Functional and Evolutionary Entomology, Gembloux Agricultural University, Gembloux, Belgium, 5 United States

Department of Agriculture (USDA) – Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland, United States of America, 6 Department of

Entomology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America

Abstract

Background: Over the last two winters, there have been large-scale, unexplained losses of managed honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies in the United States. In the absence of a known cause, this syndrome was named Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) because the main trait was a rapid loss of adult worker bees. We initiated a descriptive epizootiological study in order to better characterize CCD and compare risk factor exposure between populations afflicted by and not afflicted by CCD.


Find out What’s New at Mann Lake, Here
Protein feeding pays off with better bee health, better survival, better production, and better wintering.  Learn More.
Methods and Principal Findings: Of 61 quantified variables (including adult bee physiology, pathogen loads, and pesticide levels), no single measure emerged as a most-likely cause of CCD. Bees in CCD colonies had higher pathogen loads and were co-infected with a greater number of pathogens than control populations, suggesting either an increased exposure to pathogens or a reduced resistance of bees toward pathogens. Levels of the synthetic acaricide coumaphos (used by beekeepers to control the parasitic mite Varroa destructor) were higher in control colonies than CCD-affected colonies.
For a comprehensive listing of beekeeping events around the country and around the globe, check out Bee Culture’s Global Beekeeping Calendar
Conclusions/Significance: This is the first comprehensive survey of CCD-affected bee populations that suggests CCD involves an interaction between pathogens and other stress factors. We present evidence that this condition is contagious or the result of exposure to a common risk factor. Potentially important areas for future hypothesis-driven research, including the possible legacy effect of mite parasitism and the role of honey bee resistance to pesticides, are highlighted.
Subscribe to Malcolm Sanford’s Apis Newsletter right here
Read the entire paper at:http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0006481



This message brought to you by Bee Culture, The Magazine Of American Beekeeping

Back after a short summer break and an entire week at EAS

 

Sunday 2 August 2009

Structured Request for Beekeeping Stories




Dear colleague beekeeper:

After receiving some responses to my call for stories about people getting involved in beekeeping in my last Apis newsletter, I see that more structured questions might help others submit their reflections on the beekeeping experience.   So I have developed the following questionnaire:

When did you begin beekeeping?  What specifically got you interested?

 

 

 

Is there a family history of beekeeping?

 

 

 

What was your first experience manipulating a beehive like?  What did it teach you?

 

 

 

What is the size of your operation (number of hives)?  Do you plan to expand?  Contract in size? What are your major considerations for this?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you produce honey for sale or just as a gift?  Do you market other bee products?

 

 

 

Do you engage in commercial pollination?

 

 

Are you a member of an association?  Local? State?  Which?  Do you attend meetings?  Do you have a leadership role?

 

 

 

 

 

 

What short courses have you attended?  What memorable instructors have you had.  What is the most important thing you learned?

 

 

 

 

What publications (printed and electronic) do you routinely read?

 

 

 

Where do you live? What is the climate like? Temperate? Subtropical? What is the configuration of a hive in the region (all deeps) (a deep and a shallow)

 

 

 

 

What are the major plants that bees use in your area?  Have you seen any shift in their nectar production?

 

 

 

 

Where do you get replacement bees (packages? Nucs?) and queens (raise your own; purchase). What kind of bee do you use?  (Italian, Carniolan, Buckfast) Do you collect feral (wild) bees and swarms?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is your biggest beekeeping challenge now?

 

 

Has that changed since you began beekeeping? 

 

 

 

Other remarks about your experience that would encourage/entertain or educate the beginning beekeeper.

 

 

 

 

 

I give my permission to Dr. Malcolm T. Sanford to use the above in Electronic and printed media:  Your name here: ________________________

 

As I stated, I plan to do an electronic summary of the replies I get and will post it so everyone can benefit from the contributions.  Again, I will also need your permission to use the material in both printed and electronic material and provided a space above for this.

Thanks for your participation.

Malcolm T. Sanford
Beeactor@apisenterprises.com

http://apis.shorturl.com

Here is what Troy Fore published in the Summer edition of The Speedy Bee http://thespeedybee.com that fits the bill in many ways as a potential story.  Note it contains information about specific management activities (putting on foundation), specific manipulations (I made nine splits  to slow them down a bit), description of a specified location (all  beekeeping  is local—gallberry bloom in the S.E. United States), and also discusses some history based on his experiences  with  his father as mentor, including effect of the number of colonies(You can do this with two dozen hives; it is more difficult with 2,000) and even identifying a “hot” colony and how that might have come about:

Troy Fore, Editor of The Speedy Bee, second generation beekeeper in Jesup, GA:

“We have had an interesting spring (2009) in the bees.  The windup reminded me of a spring over 40 years ago.  I was working with my daddy trying to produce enough honey to make ends meet.

“Conditions looked very promising as we approached our prime season for making cut comb off gallberry.  I have a clear vision of going to beeyard after beeyard in a cold, steady rain, putting on supers of fresh foundation.  A few weeks later, we went back around removing the supers of foundation; most were empty as when installed.  The rain had continued right through the gallberry bloom.  The only thing I accomplished was catching a near-death of cold.

“This spring was also full of promise.  I had lost just three of my 27 colonies.  The remaining built up quickly -- too fast in some ways.  I made nine splits to slow them down a bit.  Since I had not made any preparations to have queens on hand, I had to leave them to rear their own queens.  Five did so; not bad considering we had a late spell of cold, windy weather just then.  I have since identified one "hot" colony; you get these occasionally when using non-selective breeding practices!

“I put on a round of deep supers of foundation.  I had bought just enough (Daddy, if you are reading this -- we can now buy assembled frames with foundation already installed.  It is a bit pricey, but when you consider paying employees and all that goes with that, the pre-assembled foundation is probably no more expensive than what we did in the old days). 

“The weather and the bloom were just right.  I was beginning to wonder if they would run out of room before the honey flow ran out.  I went around, moving a super here and a few frames there to get the empty ones on more populous colonies.  I also moved some sheets of brood to build up weak colonies and take the pressure off the strong. (You can do this with two dozen hives; it is more difficult with 2,000).

“The rains started a couple of days later.  Over the next 30 days, we must have had  measurable rainfall for at least 20.  The first two weeks of rain washed out the remaining gallberry bloom.  At least I didn't have to buy more foundation.  Even so, it was a good spring in the bees here in Southeast Georgia, especially now that I am not trying to raise a family on my beekeeping income.

“Now I need to set up for extracting somewhere.  For the past several years I have been mostly leaving the honey for wintering and making extra splits in the spring, but I am reaching my limit with 30 hives in my backyard.  Oh, I should have noted at the outset, I am telling you what I did, not what you should do.  You have to make your own mistakes.  Happy beekeeping!”

Bee sure to Catch The Buzz, Bee Culture's latest releases important to beekeepers at <http://www.beeculture.com/content/catch_buzz.cfm>.  Also access the Apis Information Resource Center <http://www.squidoo.com/apis>, which contains Dr. Malcolm T. Sanford's archived Bee Culture articles at <http://www.squidoo.com/bee_culture/> and check out his blog <http://abeekeepersblog.blogspot.com>.  Finally, take a look at the Global Bee Breeders Association’s efforts to increase honey bee diversity with minimal risk <http://gbba.vze.com>